U.S. patent application number 13/850399 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for hydroprocessing and apparatus relating thereto.
This patent application is currently assigned to UOP, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is UOP, LLC. Invention is credited to Soumendra Mohan Banerjee, Mani Krishna, Avnish Kumar.
Application Number | 20140291201 13/850399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51619762 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140291201 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Banerjee; Soumendra Mohan ;
et al. |
October 2, 2014 |
HYDROPROCESSING AND APPARATUS RELATING THERETO
Abstract
One exemplary embodiment can be a process for hydroprocessing.
The process can include providing a hydroprocessing zone having at
least two beds, and quenching downstream of a first bed of the at
least two beds with a first vacuum gas oil that may be lighter than
another vacuum gas oil fed to the first bed.
Inventors: |
Banerjee; Soumendra Mohan;
(Dwarka, IN) ; Krishna; Mani; (Chennai, IN)
; Kumar; Avnish; (Alwar, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
UOP, LLC |
DES PLAINES |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
UOP, LLC
DES PLAINES
IL
|
Family ID: |
51619762 |
Appl. No.: |
13/850399 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
208/57 ; 196/46;
208/264; 208/58; 208/59; 208/89; 208/97; 422/187 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C10G 65/04 20130101;
C10G 67/02 20130101; C10G 65/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
208/57 ; 196/46;
208/58; 208/59; 208/89; 208/97; 208/264; 422/187 |
International
Class: |
C10G 65/12 20060101
C10G065/12 |
Claims
1. A process for hydroprocessing, comprising: A) providing a
hydroprocessing zone comprising at least two beds; and B) quenching
downstream of a first bed of the at least two beds with a first
vacuum gas oil that is lighter than another vacuum gas oil fed to
the first bed.
2. The process for hydroprocessing according to claim 1, wherein
the first vacuum gas oil is a medium vacuum gas oil.
3. The process for hydroprocessing according to claim 1, wherein
the at least two beds comprise three beds.
4. The process for hydroprocessing according to claim 3, further
comprising quenching downstream of a second bed of the at least two
beds with a light vacuum gas oil.
5. The process for hydroprocessing according to claim 4, obtaining
the light vacuum gas oil from a vacuum distillation column.
6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum
distillation column comprises one or more packed beds.
7. The process according to claim 2, wherein the another vacuum gas
oil is a heavy vacuum gas oil provided upstream of the first bed of
the at least two beds and quenching with a light vacuum gas oil
downstream of a second bed of the at least two beds, wherein the
heavy vacuum gas oil has a greater sulfur and nitrogen content than
the medium vacuum gas oil, which in turn has a greater sulfur and
nitrogen content than the light vacuum gas oil.
8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydroprocessing
zone operates at a temperature of about 380-about 440.degree. C.
and a pressure of about 16,000-about 18,500 KPa.
9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the hydroprocessing
zone comprises a hydroprocessing reactor containing three beds of
the at least two beds.
10. The process according to claim 9, wherein a temperature
differential across one of the at least two beds is about 5-about
45.degree. C.
11. The process according to claim 2, wherein the medium vacuum gas
oil comprises one or more C26-C36 hydrocarbons.
12. The process according to claim 5, wherein the light vacuum gas
oil comprises one or more C24-C26 hydrocarbons.
13. The process according to claim 12, wherein the light vacuum gas
oil comprises one or more C24-C25 hydrocarbons.
14. The process according to claim 7, wherein the heavy vacuum gas
oil comprises one or more C36-C52 hydrocarbons.
15. The process according to claim 7, wherein the light vacuum gas
oil is at a temperature of about 370-about 390.degree. C., the
medium vacuum gas oil is at a temperature of about 430-about
450.degree. C., and the heavy vacuum gas oil is at a temperature of
about 510-about 530.degree. C.
16. A hydroprocessing apparatus, comprising: A) a vacuum
distillation column; B) a hydroprocessing reactor, comprising: 1) a
first bed; 2) a second bed; and 3) a third bed; and C) a plurality
of lines, comprising: 1) a first line for withdrawing a first
stream from a first location in the vacuum distillation column and
communicating the first stream downstream of the first bed; and 2)
a second line for withdrawing a second stream from a second
location in the vacuum distillation column and communicating the
second stream downstream of the second bed; wherein the first
location is at a lower elevation on the vacuum distillation column
than the second location.
17. The hydroprocessing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein
the plurality of lines further comprises a third line for
withdrawing a third stream from a third location in the vacuum
distillation column and communicating the third stream upstream of
the first bed wherein the third location is at a lower elevation on
the vacuum distillation column than the second location.
18. A process for hydroprocessing, comprising: A) sending an
atmospheric bottoms stream to a vacuum distillation column
providing a first stream comprising one or more C26-C36
hydrocarbons, a second stream comprising one or more C24-C25
hydrocarbons, and a third stream comprising one or more C36-C52
hydrocarbons; B) sending the third stream to a hydroprocessing
reactor wherein the hydroprocessing reactor contains a first bed, a
second bed, and a third bed; and C) sending the first stream
downstream of the first bed and upstream of the second bed; and
sending the second stream downstream of the second bed and upstream
of the third bed.
19. The process according to claim 18, wherein the hydroprocessing
reactor operates at a temperature of about 380-about 440.degree. C.
and a pressure of about 16,000-about 18,500 KPa.
20. The process according to claim 18, wherein a temperature
differential across the first bed, the second bed, or the third bed
is about 5-about 45.degree. C.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to hydroprocessing and an
apparatus relating thereto.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] Many refineries have an existing configuration routing the
crude column bottom stream from an atmospheric distillation column
to a secondary processing unit such as a fluidized cracking unit or
a delayed coking unit. However, stringent fuel specifications are
typically forcing these refineries to increasingly opt for using
hydroprocessing units to produce high quality middle distillates
such as diesel and kerosene. Often, a vacuum gas oil is also
subjected to hydrocracking to reduce the hydrocarbon chain size,
thereby converting the hydrocarbons to more valuable products.
Usually, a quench gas, usually from a recycle gas compressor, is
provided as needed to control the hydrocracking process. However,
heating the entire vacuum gas oil and pumping the quench gas, adds
expense to the process. Hence, there is a desire to further improve
such processes for minimizing energy and utility requirements for
producing these distillates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One exemplary embodiment can be a process for
hydroprocessing. The process can include providing a
hydroprocessing zone having at least two beds, and quenching
downstream of a first bed of the at least two beds with a first
vacuum gas oil that may be lighter than another vacuum gas oil fed
to the first bed.
[0004] Another exemplary embodiment can be a hydroprocessing
apparatus. The hydroprocessing apparatus can include a vacuum
distillation column, a hydroprocessing reactor, and a plurality of
lines. The hydroprocessing reactor can include a first bed, a
second bed, and a third bed. The plurality of lines may have a
first line and a second line. The first line can be for withdrawing
a first stream from a first location in the vacuum distillation
column and communicating the first stream downstream of the first
bed. The second line may be for withdrawing a second stream from a
second location in the vacuum distillation column and communicating
the second stream downstream of the second bed. Generally, the
first location is at a lower elevation on the vacuum distillation
column than the second location.
[0005] Another exemplary embodiment may be a process for
hydroprocessing. The process can include sending an atmospheric
bottoms stream to a vacuum distillation column providing a first
stream having one or more C26-C36 hydrocarbons, a second stream
having one or more C24-C25 hydrocarbons, and a third stream having
one or more C36-C52 hydrocarbons. Typically, the hydroprocessing
reactor contains a first bed, a second bed, and a third bed.
Usually, the first stream is sent downstream of the first bed and
upstream of the second bed, the second stream is sent downstream of
the second bed and upstream of the third bed, and the third stream
is sent to the hydroprocessing reactor.
[0006] The embodiments herein can provide an LVGO, an MVGO, and an
HVGO to a hydroprocessing zone. The HVGO can be provided to a
reactor charge furnace upstream of the hydroprocessing zone, rather
than all three oils being fed through the furnace. Hence, heater
duty can be minimized and operation costs lowered. Moreover, the
MVGO and LVGO may be routed without cooling from the vacuum
distillation column. The MVGO and LVGO can serve as a liquid quench
to hydroprocessing reactor beds, and thus, may minimize quench gas
requirements. This minimization may, in turn, reduce the power
requirement of a recycle gas compressor. Additionally, splitting
the oils and providing them at different locations within the
hydroprocessing reactor can allow altering the quantity and quality
of the bed catalyst depending on the type of feed provided thereto.
Furthermore, revamping an existing hydroprocessing apparatus to
heat only the HVGO can lower the pressure drop across the reactor
charge furnace, and allow increases in charge rates.
DEFINITIONS
[0007] As used herein, the term "stream" can include various
hydrocarbon molecules, such as straight-chain, branched, or cyclic
alkanes, alkenes, alkadienes, and alkynes, and optionally other
substances, such as gases, e.g., hydrogen, or impurities, such as
heavy metals, and sulfur and nitrogen compounds. The stream can
also include aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons. Moreover, the
hydrocarbon molecules may be abbreviated C1, C2, C3 . . . Cn where
"n" represents the number of carbon atoms in the one or more
hydrocarbon molecules. Furthermore, a superscript "+" or "-" may be
used with an abbreviated one or more hydrocarbons notation, e.g.,
C3.sup.+ or C3.sup.-, which is inclusive of the abbreviated one or
more hydrocarbons. As an example, the abbreviation "C3.sup.+" means
one or more hydrocarbon molecules of three carbon atoms and/or
more. A "stream" may also be or include substances, e.g., fluids,
other than hydrocarbons, such as hydrogen.
[0008] As used herein, the term "zone" can refer to an area
including one or more equipment items and/or one or more sub-zones.
Equipment items can include one or more reactors or reactor
vessels, heaters, exchangers, pipes, pumps, compressors, and
controllers. Additionally, an equipment item, such as a reactor,
dryer, or vessel, can further include one or more zones or
sub-zones.
[0009] As used herein, the term "hydroprocessing" can refer to
processing one or more hydrocarbons in the presence of hydrogen,
and can include hydrotreating and/or hydrocracking.
[0010] As used herein, the term "hydrocracking" can refer to a
process breaking or cracking bonds of at least one long-chain
hydrocarbon in the presence of hydrogen and at least one catalyst
into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons.
[0011] As used herein, the term "hydrotreating" can refer to a
process including contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock with hydrogen
gas in the presence of one or more suitable catalysts for the
removal of heteroatoms, such as sulfur, nitrogen and metals from a
hydrocarbon feedstock. In hydrotreating, hydrocarbons with double
and triple bonds may be saturated, and aromatics may also be
saturated, as some hydrotreating processes are specifically
designed to saturate aromatics.
[0012] As used herein, the term "vacuum distillation" can refer to
a process for distilling a stream, typically a bottom stream, from
an atmospheric distillation column, by using pressure of less than
about 101.3 KPa to facilitate boiling and distillation.
[0013] As used herein, the term "vacuum gas oil" can include one or
more C22-C52 hydrocarbons and boil in the range of about 340-about
590.degree. C. or about 340-about 560.degree. C. at about 101.3
KPa. A vacuum gas oil may be a hydrocarbon product of vacuum
distillation and be abbreviated herein as "VGO".
[0014] As used herein, the term "heavy vacuum gas oil" can include
one or more C36-C52 hydrocarbons and boil in the range of about
490-about 590.degree. C. or about 340-about 560.degree. C. at about
101.3 KPa. The term "heavy vacuum gas oil" may be abbreviated
herein as "HVGO".
[0015] As used herein, the term "medium vacuum gas oil" can include
one or more C26-C36 hydrocarbons and boil in the range of about
400-about 490.degree. C. at about 101.3 KPa. The term "medium
vacuum gas oil" may be abbreviated herein as "MVGO".
[0016] As used herein, the term "light vacuum gas oil" can include
one or more C24-C26 hydrocarbons, or even one or more C24-C25
hydrocarbons, and boil in the range of about 370-about 400.degree.
C. at about 101.3 KPa. The term "light vacuum gas oil" may be
abbreviated herein as "LVGO".
[0017] As used herein, the term "kilopascal" may be abbreviated
"KPa", and the terms "degrees Celsius" may be abbreviated ".degree.
C.".
[0018] As depicted, the process flow lines in the FIGURE can be
referred to interchangeably as, e.g., lines, pipes, feeds,
branches, oils, portions, products, or streams.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0019] The FIGURE is a schematic, cross-sectional depiction of an
exemplary apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] Referring to the FIGURE, an exemplary hydroprocessing
apparatus 100 can include a vacuum distillation column 160, a
hydroprocessing zone 200 and a plurality of lines 260 communicating
the vacuum distillation column 160 to the hydroprocessing zone 200.
The plurality of lines 260 may include lines 264, 274, and 284 and
may also be referred to as streams, as discussed hereinafter.
Usually, an atmospheric bottom stream 80 is heated by a vacuum
column charge furnace 110 and provided to the vacuum distillation
column 160. Generally, the vacuum distillation column 160 has one
or more packed beds 170, namely a first packed bed 174, a second
packed bed 178, a third packed bed 182, and a fourth packed bed
186. The vacuum distillation column 160 can facilitate boiling and
distillation of the atmospheric bottom stream 80 by lowering the
pressure, thereby producing a VGO. A steam stream 120 can also
enter the vacuum distillation column 160 to facilitate the
distillation. In this exemplary embodiment, the VGO can be split
into an LVGO stream 274, an MVGO stream 264, and an HVGO stream
284.
[0021] Typically, the atmospheric bottom stream 80 undergoes vacuum
distillation and is thereby separated into a number of cuts.
Generally, the lightest weight cut is removed from the top of the
vacuum distillation column 160 in an overhead stream 130 and
another cut near the top of the vacuum distillation column 160 can
exit as a diesel stream 134. A bottom portion can be removed as a
vacuum residue stream 138 for further processing.
[0022] The streams 264, 274, and 284 can be withdrawn at several
locations, namely a first location 270, a second location 280, and
a third location 290 downstream of, respectively, the third packed
bed 182, the second packed bed 178, and the fourth packed bed 186
in the vacuum distillation column 160. Generally, the first
location 270 is at a lower elevation on the vacuum distillation
column 160 than the second location 280, and the third location 290
is at a lower elevation on the vacuum distillation column 160 than
the second location 280 and the first location 270.
[0023] The first stream, first VGO, or MVGO stream 264 can include,
optionally at least about 25%, by weight, one or more C26-C36
hydrocarbons at a temperature of about 430-about 450.degree. C.;
the second stream, second VGO, or LVGO stream 274 can include,
optionally at least about 25%, by weight, one or more C24-C25, or
C24-C26 hydrocarbons at a temperature of about 370-about
390.degree. C.; and the third stream, third VGO, another VGO, or
HVGO stream 284 including at least about 25%, by weight, one or
more C36-C52 hydrocarbons at a temperature of about 510-about
530.degree. C. These streams 264, 274, and 284 can be provided to
the hydroprocessing zone 200 with the third or HVGO stream 284
first being sent to a reactor charge furnace 146. A recycle gas
stream 300 including hydrogen can be added to the first stream 264,
the second stream 274, and the third stream 284 via respective
branches 308, 312, and 304.
[0024] The hydroprocessing zone 200 can receive the streams 264,
274, and/or 284. The hydroprocessing zone 200 can contain a
hydroprocessing reactor 210 having at least two beds 220, and in
this exemplary embodiment can have three beds, namely a first bed
230, a second bed 240, and a third bed 250. A gas stream 316 can be
split from the recycle gas stream 300 and further divided into a
first recycle gas quench stream 320 and a second recycle gas quench
stream 330. Control valves 324 and 334 and respective temperature
indicator controllers 328 and 338 regulate the quench gas flows.
Typically, the quench gases are used to reduce temperatures in the
beds 240 and 250. The hydroprocessing reactor 210 may operate at a
temperature of about 380-about 440.degree. C., and a pressure of
about 16,000-about 18,500 KPa. The temperature differential across
beds 230, 240, or 250 may be about 5-about 45.degree. C.
[0025] Suitable hydrotreating catalysts can be any known
conventional hydrotreating catalysts and include those which may be
comprised of at least one metal of groups 8-10 of the periodic
table, preferably iron, cobalt and nickel, and at least one metal
of group 6 of the periodic table, preferably molybdenum and
tungsten, on a high surface area support material, preferably
alumina Other suitable hydrotreating catalysts can include zeolitic
catalysts, as well as noble metal catalysts where the noble metal
may be selected from palladium and platinum. More than one type of
hydrotreating catalyst can be used in the hydroprocessing reactor
210, and a catalyst having at least some hydrocracking properties
may be included as well. The metal of groups 8-10 is typically
present in an amount ranging from about 2-about 20%, by weight, and
the metal of group 6 is typically in an amount ranging from about
1-about 25%, by weight. The catalyst in each bed 230, 240, or 250
may be a combination of treating and cracking types depending on
the quality of the feed, which often, in turn, depends upon the
type of crude being processed upstream. The catalyst quantity in
each bed can be selected to meet the desired product
specification.
[0026] In operation, the vacuum distillation column 160 can provide
the MVGO stream 264, the LVGO stream 274, and the HVGO stream 284.
In some embodiments, the entire VGO stream can be fed through a
furnace, heated, and transferred into a hydrotreating and/or
hydrocracking apparatus. Generally, a VGO may contain heteroatoms,
such as sulfur, nitrogen and metals, such as iron, vanadium, and
nickel. Such heteroatoms are generally undesired in a fuel source.
Often, heteroatom content typically increases as the true boiling
point range increases, so usually the HVGO stream 284 has a higher
content of heteroatoms, such sulfur and nitrogen, than the MVGO
stream 264, which in turn has a higher content of heteroatoms, such
as sulfur and nitrogen, than the LVGO stream 274.
[0027] Usually, the HVGO stream 284 is heated in the reactor charge
furnace 146 before entering the hydroprocessing reactor 210
upstream of the first bed 230, and thus, can receive the most
hydroprocessing. The MVGO stream 264, which typically requires less
hydroprocessing than the HVGO stream 284, is routed downstream of
the first bed 230 and upstream of the second bed 240. The LVGO
stream 274, which typically requires less treatment than the HVGO
and the MVGO streams 284 and 264, is routed downstream of the
second bed 240 and upstream of the third bed 250. Accordingly, the
MVGO and LVGO streams 264 and 274, rather than receiving full
treatment along with the HVGO stream 284, receive less treatment
based upon their composition. This routing of streams 264, 274, and
284 can minimize use of the reactor charge furnace 146 and beds 230
and 240, resulting in increased efficiency and lowered costs of
operation. Moreover, the LVGO stream 274 and the MVGO stream 264
can serve as liquid quenches, lessening the requirements of the
recycle gas quench streams 320 and 330, resulting in cost savings
and greater efficiency of operation. After treatment and cracking,
a reactor effluent 340 can be withdrawn for further processing.
[0028] The embodiments disclosed herein can be obtained by
modifying an existing hydrotreating apparatus. Particularly, the
lines 264, 274, and 284 can be arranged so only the HVGO line 284
is coupled to the reactor charge furnace 146. With only the HVGO
portion of the VGO provided to the furnace, the operating pressure
on the furnace may be reduced. What is more, the capacity of the
furnace may be increased by heating only the HVGO stream instead of
the entire VGO stream.
[0029] The numbers and arrangement of a number of components
disclosed herein can be modified. As an example, the vacuum
distillation column 160 can have any suitable number of packed
beds. Likewise, the hydroprocessing reactor 210 can have any
suitable number of beds, such as two beds. In such an instance, the
MVGO quenching may be downstream of the first bed, and LVGO
quenching downstream of the second bed. Additionally, the MVGO cut
can also be split and mixed with the LVGO and HVGO cuts to further
optimize the feed quality depending on the existing reactor bed
catalyst loadings.
[0030] Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled
in the art can, using the preceding description, utilize the
present invention to its fullest extent. The preceding preferred
specific embodiments are, therefore, to be construed as merely
illustrative, and not limitative of the remainder of the disclosure
in any way whatsoever.
[0031] In the foregoing, all temperatures are set forth in degrees
Celsius and, all parts and percentages are by weight, unless
otherwise indicated.
[0032] From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can
easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention
and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make
various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to
various usages and conditions.
* * * * *